KIEV: February 8, 2018Representatives of the Russian Church Abroad participate in the centennial celebrations of the martyrdom of Holy Hieromartyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky)

On February 7, 2018, the feast day of Hieromartyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky), Metropolitan of Kiev and Galicia, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Trapeznaya Church of SS Antony and Theodosius in Uspensky Kievo-Pechersk Lavra, as reported by the Informational-Educational Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

His Beatitude was joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, Prior of the monastery; His Eminence Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovarsk; His Eminence Metropolitan Luka of Zaporozhsk and Melitopolsk; His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander of Pereyaslavl and Khmelnitsk; His Eminence Archbishop Feodoy of Boyarsk; His Eminence Archbishop Kliment of Nezhinsk and Priluksk; His Grace Bishop Damian of Fastovsk;, His Grace Bishop Bogolep of Alexandriisk and Svetlovods, along with delegates of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and clerical monastics. ROCOR was represented by Protopriest Serafim Gan and Synodal Choir Director Peter Fekula.

After the reading of the Gospel, Metropolitan Onouphry addressed the worshipers with a sermon. He explained that saints sacrifice themselves to the point of giving up their lives in order to prevent falling away from the Church, illustrating the message with the life of St Vladimir, whose experience teaches Christians how to overcome adversity.

An augmented litany for peace in Ukraine was included in the service. After Liturgy, a moleben was performed before the relics of St Vladimir.